Application of doped photocatalysts for organic pollutant degradation - A review

Abstract

Advanced oxidation process involves production of hydroxyl radical for industrial wastewater treatment. This method is based on the irradiation of UV light to photocatalysts such as TiO₂ and ZnO for photodegradation of pollutant. UV light is used for irradiation in photocatalytic process because TiO₂ has a high band gap energy which is around 3.2 eV. There can be shift adsorption to visible light by reducing the band gap energy to below 3.2 eV. Doped catalyst is one of the means to reduce band gap energy. Different methods are used for doped catalyst which uses transition metals and titanium dioxide. The band gap energy of three types of transition metals Fe, Cd and Co after being doped with TiO_2, are around 2.88 ev, 2.97ev and 2.96 ev, respectively which are all below TiO₂ energy. Some of the transition metals change the energy level to below 3.2 eV and the adsorption shifts to visible light for degradation of industrial pollutant after being doped with titanium dioxide. This paper aims at providing a deep insight into advanced oxidation processes, photocatalysts and their applications in wastewater treatment, doping processes and the effects of operational factors on photocatalytic degradation.

Keywords: Band gap; Doped processes; Photocatalytic; Sol-gel.